Woman in the Rosé Stripe Tie-Back Top, a pink and rust striped bell sleeve top in Indian cotton, worn with white trousers

Indo western outfits for women: nine looks in Indian fabric

An Indo western outfit is one Indian piece and one western piece in the same look: a western top with dhoti pants, a midi dress with a dupatta, a peplum top with a brocade skirt. It works for the days when a full lehenga is too much and jeans are too little. Here are nine Indo western outfits for women, built around seven pieces in Indian fabric and craft, and how to put your own together.

What makes an outfit Indo western

Keep one half Indian and one half western, and let one of them lead. If the top is bright and patterned, keep the bottom plain. If the bottom is a heavy brocade, go simple on top. Jewellery and shoes decide how festive it reads. Jhumkas, juttis and a potli bag push a plain western outfit towards a function. Sneakers pull it back to a weekend.

A top in Indian fabric gives you a head start. The fabric already says where it comes from, so the rest of the outfit can stay simple.

Nine Indo western outfits for women

1. Stripes and dhoti pants, for a puja at a friend's place. The Sundown Stripe Green Top has green stripes, a mandarin collar and a keyhole that ties at the neck. The collar already looks a little like a kurta, so it sits well with cream dhoti pants. Add kolhapuris and small gold studs. It is sleeveless, so carry a stole if the evening turns cool. Rs. 1,650.

2. Bell sleeves and a palazzo, for a mehendi. The Rosé Stripe Tie-Back Top comes in pink and rust stripes with wide bell sleeves and a tie at the back. Wear it with a plain palazzo in rust, white or mustard, and oxidised silver jhumkas. Skip the bangles: the sleeves are the statement, and bangles only catch on them. Tie the back a little tighter so the top sits neatly over the palazzo. Rs. 1,650.

3. A peplum and a brocade skirt, for a wedding reception. The Bluebell Breeze Tie-Top is blue and white gingham with shoulders that tie and a peplum waist. Pair it with a straight brocade or silk skirt in navy or gold that skims the hips, so the peplum keeps its shape. A potli bag and block heels finish it. This is the dressiest of the six. Rs. 1,450.

4. The midi dress with a jacket, for a sangeet. The Summer Jam Midi Dress is a red and yellow check with an A-line skirt and ties at the waist. Throw a short embroidered or block printed jacket over it and the dress turns festive. Juttis are easier than heels if you plan to dance. Rs. 1,850.

5. The peplum and jeans, for Diwali visits to relatives. Back to the Bluebell Breeze, this time with dark jeans and a bandhani dupatta over one shoulder. It is the outfit for going house to house with sweets: comfortable for hours, smart enough for photos, and the dupatta does the Indian half on its own. Rs. 1,450.

6. The midi dress with a dupatta, for a day wedding. Wear the Summer Jam with a light dupatta draped over both arms, gold jhumkas and heeled sandals. Red and yellow already read as wedding colours, so you do not need much else. In a hot venue, the cotton is a relief. Rs. 1,850.

7. The embroidered top and a palazzo, for a Diwali party. The Mirchi Red Embroidered Top is fitted, red and covered in sequin stripes, with a mandarin collar and a lace-up back you pull in to fit. Wear it with a plain black silk palazzo and gold juttis. The top is already the festive half, so skip the dupatta. Rs. 1,950.

8. The embroidered mini skirt and a white shirt, for a sangeet or a cocktail night. The Tamasha Embroidered Mini Skirt has bands of olive and gold aari embroidery from waist to hem. A sheer white blouse or a crisp white shirt tucked in keeps the top half western. Add block heels and small gold hoops. Rs. 2,050.

9. The embroidered dress as a kurti, for a mehendi or a Diwali morning. The Ivy Green Embroidered Dress is bottle green with bell sleeves and floral aari work. Wear it over straight white pants and it reads as a short kurti; wear it alone with heels and it is a party dress. Rs. 2,450.

Looks 1 to 6 use four pieces from The Madras Theory, cut from handloom Madras cotton woven in Tamil Nadu, in sizes XS to XL. Looks 7 to 9 are from Jig Jig, hand-finished aari embroidery with sequins and zari, in sizes XS to XXL, made to order.

Indo western for a wedding guest

For a wedding, go one step dressier than you think you need. Swap trousers for a skirt, cotton accessories for gold or silver, and flats for juttis or block heels. A brocade or silk bottom does the most work for the least money, because it lifts any plain top. Check the invite first: if the family has asked for traditional wear for a ceremony, wear that, and keep Indo western for the sangeet or reception.

Put together your own Indo western look

  • One Indian piece, one western piece. Two Indian pieces turn into ethnic wear. Two western ones stay western.
  • One pattern at a time. A striped or checked top wants a plain bottom. A printed skirt wants a plain top.
  • Let the shoes and jewellery set the occasion. Juttis and jhumkas for a function, sneakers for a market day.
  • Balance the shape. A full sleeve or a peplum on top looks best with a straight or slim bottom.

When to order

Wedding season runs through November and December. Standard delivery is free on every order across India and takes 3 to 7 business days. Express costs Rs. 290, leaves us the same business day and arrives in 1 to 3 business days. Business days run Monday to Saturday, so count back from the function, not from the weekend before it.

Jig Jig pieces are made for you after you order and take about 20 days to reach you, with free Standard shipping. Order them at least three weeks before the function.

Not sure of your size? Each product page has a size guide in cm and inches, and if the fit is off you can exchange it within 7 days of delivery.

Questions people ask

What is an Indo western outfit?

An outfit that pairs one Indian piece with one western piece, for example a western top with dhoti pants or a palazzo, or a dress with a dupatta.

Can I wear Indo western to a wedding?

Yes, for the sangeet, mehendi or reception, unless the family asks for traditional wear. Choose a dressier bottom like a brocade or silk skirt and add gold or silver jewellery.

What can I wear with an Indo western top?

Dhoti pants, a palazzo, a straight silk skirt or dark jeans. Keep the bottom plain if the top is striped or checked.

Which shoes go with Indo western outfits?

Juttis and kolhapuris for most functions, block heels for a reception, and white sneakers for a casual day out.

More ways to wear these: read how to style a peplum top, see what Madras check is, read about aari work vs embroidery, or shop The Madras Theory and Jig Jig.